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Public comment now being taken via website in debate over Pittsburgh's Stephen Foster statue

City leaders are asking residents to submit their comment online before the October 4th public hearing

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Updated: 12:50 PM EDT Sep 8, 2017

Public comment now being taken via website in debate over Pittsburgh's Stephen Foster statue

City leaders are asking residents to submit their comment online before the October 4th public hearing

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Updated: 12:50 PM EDT Sep 8, 2017

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WEBVTT THAT STATUE.BOB: THIS STATUE OF STREEVEN FOSTrtER STANDS HERE IN OAKLAND, THE SONGWRITER LITERALLY UP ON APEDESTAL AND AT HIS FEET BAREFOOT AND PLAYING A BANJO, THE IMAGE OF A SrtLAVE WITH CONTROVERSIES ABOUT STATUES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CUP, THE FATEOF THIS STATUE HERE IN PITTSBURGH IS UNDER REVIEW.THE JUDGMENT OF WHETHER TOrt REMOVE THIS STATUE WILL BE BASEDAND A REVIEW AND REPORT BY PITTSBURGH'S ART COMMISSION WORKING WITH THE HISTORIC REVIEWCOMMISSION.>> THE REMOVAL OFrt A STATUE ISN'TGOING TO BE A BINARY DECISION.IT ISN'T WHETHER IT GETS MELTED DOWN INTO SOMETHING OR IT RErtMAINS EXACTLY WHERE IT IS.BOB: PERSONALLY THE MAYOR FEELSTHE STATUE SHOULD BE MOVED.>> RIGHT NOW AS WE LOOK AT IT, THERE WOULD BErt A MORE APPROPRIATE LOCATION FOR IT EITHER IN THE STEPHEN FOSTER MEMORIAL OR AT THE STEPHENrt FOSTER HOMESTEAD THAN BEING IN APUBLIC PARK.BOB: WHEN WE VISITED THIS YWCA VIGIL AGAINST RACISM, WE HEARD FROM A MANrt WHO STARTED A CHANGE.ORG PETITION TO REMOVE THE STATUE FROM PUBLIC SPACE.>> IT PORTRAYS BLACK PEOPLE IN ArtCHARACTERIZED FORM, A FORM THAT IS ACTUALLY VERY OFFENSIVE TO ANY PERSON, BUT ESPECIALLY BLACKPEOPLE.BOB: THE MAYOR DID NOT ANSWER DIRECTLY WHEN WE ASKED IF HE rtFEELS THE FOSTER STATUE READS INMODERN TIMES AS A RACIST SYMBOL.>> IT IS MORE IMPORTANT HOW OTHERSrt VIEW IT THAT I REPRESENT AND HOW IT MAKES THEM FEEL WHEN THEY SEE THAT STATUE.>> ALL I KNOW IS THAT I WALK DOWN THE STREET.I WALK DOWN PUBLICrt PROPERTY AND I SEE THE STATUE AND I'M OFFENDED.I'M INCREDIBLY OFFENDED.

Public comment now being taken via website in debate over Pittsburgh's Stephen Foster statue

City leaders are asking residents to submit their comment online before the October 4th public hearing

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Updated: 12:50 PM EDT Sep 8, 2017

PITTSBURGH —

The City of Pittsburgh is now asking residents to weigh in on the controversy surrounding the Stephen Foster statue.

A public hearing will be held Wednesday, October 4th before the Art Commission, but you can submit your comments now online.

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Pittsburgh's Action News 4 told you in August that city leaders are looking into whether the statue of the musical pioneer should be moved from a spot along Forbes Avenue in Oakland after years of being criticized for its depiction of a black character from one of Foster's songs.

City leaders are debating the following actions:

1. No action;2. Leave the statue where it is and introduce interpretive signage;3. Relocate the statue;4. Removal of the statue